Attachment for applique work



March 9, 1954 l C, Q BAEHR 2,671,419

ATTACHMENT FOR APPLIQUE WORK Filed June 2, 1951 Patented Mar. 9, 1954 UNITED STATES TENT OFFICE ATTACHMENT FOR APPLIQU WORK Application J une 2, 1951, Seria-l No. 229,61)

6 Claims.

This invention relates to sewing machine attachments and more particularly to an attachment for doing decorative work such, for example, as appliqu work, the sewing of monograms and the like. As illustrated, the invention is applied to a sewing machine attachment adapted to be secured to the ordinary household sewing machine.

Work of this kind requires that the material be moved laterally with respect to the normal line of passage 0f the goods through the machine, and that the lateral movements of the material be such that these lateral stitches are substantially at right angles to the feed of the material so that the lateral stitches are substantially straight-line stitches and not zigzag stitches. In other words, the material is moved laterally from the normal line of sewing, a stitch is made, and the material is then returned without any longitudinal feed of the material having been effected. After the second stitch has been made in the normal line of sewing, the material is then fed one step forwardly, and the process is repeated so that the result consists of a longitudinal stitch and a plurality of straight lateral stitches at right angles to the longitudinal stitch.

rihe spacing of the lateral stitches may be adjusted so that they may be set more or less closely together, and, in fact, may be set so closely together that they are in substantial contact with each other, as, for example, in monogram sewing. The longitudinal feed of the material is, therefore, intermittent in that it does not take place at every stroke of the needle bar as is the case with the usual sewing machine attachment.

It is desirable in devices of this character to be able to adjust the longitudinal feed within very line limits and over a considerable range, and equally desirable to be able to effect this adjustment readily and with little effort in order that the attachment may be used by anyone who has a sewing machine and who may or may not be in any adjusted position. One of these levers has a part engaging a cam wheel, while the other has a portion engaging the feed blade so that the adjustment thereof by moving the pin in the slot regulates the effective lateral distance between these two engaging parts, and, therefore, .regulates the length of each of the feed stitches, as will be more particularly described hereinafter.

(Cl. i12-160) One object of the invention is to provide a sewing machine attachment for performing appliqu work or monogram sewing which is simple in construction and relatively economical to manufacture.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a sewing machine attachment of the class described which may be adjusted to effect a feed stitch of the desired length so that the lateral stitches may be made very close together or at some distance apart as desired.

A still further object o1" the invention is to provide a sewing machine attachment of the class described which may be of relatively simple construction and may be operable by the ordinary user of a household sewing machine without requiring a special skill for its use.

A still further object of the invention is the L revision of a sewing machine attachment of the character described which will eiiect the feeding of the cloth longitudinally through the sewing machine to produce a longitudinal stitch, and it will also effect lateral stitches at substantially right angles to the direction of the longitudinal stitch.

To these and other ends the invention consists in Vthe novel features and combinations of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a sewing machine attachment embodying my improvements;

Fig. 2 is a top plan View theroi Fig, 3 is a sectional view on line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a sectional View on line ll--d of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a sectional View on line 5-5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a detailed view of a portion of the feed mechanism showing the manner of adjusting the same; and

Fig. 7 is an exploded View of the feed levers shown in Fig. 6.

To illustrate a preferred embodiment of my invention I have shown in the drawings a sewing machine attachment comprising a frame of substantially U-shaped form, the frame comprising a base por-tion iB and spaced upstanding side portions H and i2. Adjacent the front edge of the side portion H the latter is bent into U-shaped. form, as shown at I3, to provide an adapter by which the device may be secured to the presser bar ci a sewing machine. Also, the base plate ic is extended forwardly and onset downwardly, as at l, to provide the presser foot I5 in which is the usual needle slot Il'. A cloth-holding foot i8 may be provided, which foot extends downwardly into the needle slot to engage the cloth, but as this foot is not a part of the present invention, further description thereof will be unnecessary.

Rotatably mounted in the upstanding side portions I I and I2 is a shaft 20 to which is secured the usual ratchet wheel 2I, this ratchet wheel being operated in a step-by-step manner by the fork arm 22, which is of the usual form and which, as well-known in the art, is attached to the needle bar of the sewing machine. The fork arm is pivotally mounted upon the shaft 20, as is usual, and is provided with a pawl 23 which engages the ratchet wheel.

Secured to the shaft 20, as shown in Fig. 5, is a cam wheel 24. This cam wheel is provided with a plurality of laterally offset portions 25 which, as will be hereinafter explained, effect lateral movements of the feed blade, and is also provided with peripheral cam portions 26 which depress the feed blade into contact with the goods or material which is being used. Each of the cam portions 26 terminates in a peripheral notch or recess 2'! in the edge of the cam wheel 24 which, as will be hereinafter explained, permits the feed blade to be raised from the material at certain times during the operation of the device. It may here be stated that the base portion Ill of the frame is cut away, as shown at 28, so as to permit this cam wheel to project through the base portion of the frame and engage the feed blade which is pivoted to the lower face of the base.

Also secured to the shaft 20 is the cam wheel 30 which effects rearward movements of the feed blade to move the material forwardly or along the line of stitching to effect the longitudinal stitches. This wheel is provided with a plurality of projecting cam portions 3I which engage and actuate the feed levers, which will be described hereinafter.

The feed blade is shown at 32 and is connected to the base member I0 of the frame by means of a pin 33 secured to the blade, this pin being slidably mounted in a slot 34 in the base member I0 so as to permit the feed blade to move longitudinally with respect to the base of the frame. A coil spring 35 is connected at one end to the frame member II and at the other end to the feed blade so as to normally urge the feed blade forwardly and maintain it in engagement with the peripheral edge of the cam member 24.

This feed blade is provided with a cloth-engaging foot 36 which is roughened upon its undersurface so that it will engage and feed the material, this foot being provided with a rectangular opening 3l within which the presser foot I5 extends. The cloth-engaging foot 36 is pivoted intermediate its length to the feed blade 32 so that it enjoys a rocking movement about the transverse axis. To this end the feed blade is provided with projecting trunnions 38 which are received in recesses 39 in upstanding lugs upon the foot 36. Z-shaped spring members 40 secured to the member 36 extend over the trunnions 38 to detachably secure the foot to the feed blade.

The feed blade is also provided with a pair of spaced lugs 4| (Fig. 3), which lugs are disposed one upon each side of the cam wheel 24 so that these lugs may be engaged by the laterally offset cam portions 25 of this wheel, and move the blade laterally at spaced intervals during the operation of the device. At other times these lugs will be engaged by the peripheral portions of the cam wheel between the laterally offset portions 25, and hold the feed blade in position for straightline sewing. It will be understood that the feeding mechanism of the sewing machine will be covered by the usual throat plate (not shown) so that the feeding of the material will be effected entirely by the feed blade 32 through the clothengaging foot 36.

The feed blade is also provided with an opening 42 (Fig. 5), this opening being formed by striking downwardly a portion of the metal of the blade, as shown at 43. The opening 42 is adapted to receive the high point of the cam portion 26 of the cam wheel 24, this portion being adjacent the recess 21 so that when the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 5, the feed blade may be moved upwardly out of contact with the goods by the spring 35. At this time the presser foot I5 will engage the goods or material, and the feeding foot 36 will be out of engagement with the material.

Extending between the frame members I I and I2 adjacent the upper rear corners thereof is a pin 45 upon which pin is pivotally mounted an actuating lever 4S of stirrup shape form, as shown more especially in Fig. 7. One leg of this member is extended rearwardly, as shown at 41, and provided with an elongated slot 48. The bight portion 4S) of the stirrup shaped member is adapted to engage the pin 33 which is secured to the feed blade, as shown in Fig. 5, and move the feed blade in a rearward direction. The reverse movement of the feed blade is effected by the spring 35 which, as will be seen from Fig. 5, is inclined, and not only urges the feed blade in an upward direction, but also in a forward direction.

Also pivoted upon the pin 45 is a second lever which is provided with a laterally extending arm 5I adapted to be engaged by the cam portions 3I of the cam wheel 30 to swing this lever in a rearward direction, as seen in Fig. 4. 'Ihe lever 50 is also provided with a slot 52 designed to intersect the slot 48, as shown more especially in Fig. 6. It will be noted that the slots do not register throughout their lengths but merely cross or intersect each other as they are formed at different angles with respect to the pin 45.

Passing through the intersecting or registering portions of the slots 48 and 52 is an adjusting screw 59 designed to receive the nut 60 so that the screw may be placed in any desired position and secured in that position by tightening the nut or cap 60.

It will be noted that under the influence of gravity the levers 46 and 50 will normally stand in the position shown in Fig. Il. When the fork arm is oscillated and the shaft 20 rotated in a step-by-step movement, the cam wheel 30 will likewise be rotated in a step-by-step movement in a counterclockwise direction, as shown in this figure and also in Fig. 6. When the cam members SI .strike the arm 5I on the lever 5H, the latter will be swung in a clockwise direction about the pivot pin 45 so that its lower end moves rearwardly. Through the connection of this lever with the lever 46 by the pin 59, the lever 45 will likewise be swung in the same direction and cause the portion 49 of this lever to engage the pin 33 and move the feed blade rearwardly, as shown in Fig. 6.

The amount of rearward movement given to the feed blade would depend upon the initial position of the lever 45. When the pin 59 is in its uppermost position, as shown in Figs. 4 and 6, this lever will stand in its rearmost position and the bight portion 49 will either be in engagement with the pin 33 or nearly in engagement with this pin, as shown in Fig. 5. When, however, the pin 59 is moved downwardly in the slots 48 and 52, the lever 46 will be moved toward the cam wheel 36 so that there will be considerable space between the kicker portion 49 of this lever and the pin 33. When the lever i6 is actuated in this position, the feed blade 49 will be given a shorter throw and, therefore, a shorter feed step of the material will be effected. It will be understood that the pin 59 may, of course, be placed in any position within these slots, and that when it is in its lowermost position, the feed step will be so short that the lateral stitches are substantially in juxtaposition one with another.

The operation of the device may be briefly described as follows.

With the parts in the position shown in Figs. 4 and 5, it will be apparent that the cloth-holding foot 36 is raised upwardly from the material, being held upwardly by the spring 35. This position of the feed blade is permitted owing to the fact that the portion I3EL of the blade is received in one of the recesses 21.

Upon oscillation of the fork arm 22, the cam portion 26 of the cam wheel 24 will engage the portion 43e of the feed blade and move this blade downwardly into contact with the material, raising the presser foot I5 from engagement with the material. Immediately thereafter, the `adjacent laterally displaced portion 25 of the cam 'wheel will pass between the lugs 4| on the feed blade and move the blade laterally so that upon the downward movement of the needle, a lateral stitch will be made. Upon the next oscillation of the fork arm, the portion 25 of the cam wheel will move out of engagement with the lugs 4l, which will then be in engagement with a straight portion of the cam wheel, and the feed blade will be moved back to its original position so that upon descent of the needle bar, a second stitch may be made in the material. After this stitch is made, one of the cam portions 3| of the cam wheel 30 will engage the arm 5| of the lever 50 and cause the lever 46 to swing rearwardly, thus moving the feed blade to the left, as shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6, and effecting a feed step of the material. Immediately after this step has been effected, the high point of the cam portion 26 will reach the position shown in Fig. 5 in which it will be opposite the opening 42, and the cam wheel 30 will have moved to the position shown in Fig. 4 in which the arm 5I will have been disengaged by the cam portion 3|. At this time the spring will move the feed blade upwardly, as to the position shown in Fig. 5, and then forwardly so that when the operations are repeated, the cloth-engaging foot 36 will engage the material at a forward point and be ready for another operation.

It will be seen, therefore, that the feed blade and the cloth-holding foot 36 attached thereto is moved in an oscillatory manner, first moved downwardly to engage the cloth, then rearwardly to effect a feeding operation, then upwardly to release the cloth, and then forwardly to its original position. Between the downward and rearward movements of the feed blade, the cam members 25 will come into action to move the feed blade laterally, and then restore it to its original position to effect lateral stitches in the material.

While I have shown and described some preferred embodiments of my invention, it will be understood that it is not to be limited to al1 of the details shown, but is capable of modication and variation within the spirit of the invention and within the scope of the claims.

What I claim is:

l. A sewing machine attachment comprising a frame having a substantially horizontal base portion and an upstanding member, a feed blade, means connecting said blade to the base portion of the frame for forward and rear feeding movements, actuating means to effect movement of the blade comprising a lever pivoted to the frame, a fork arm pivoted to the upstanding member of the frame and connected with said lever to actuate the same, a second lever pivoted to the frame and having means to engage a part on the feed blade, and adjustable means connecting said levers to vary the throw of the feed vblade thereby.

2. A sewing machine attachment comprising a frame having a substantially horizontal base portion and an upstanding member, a, feed blade, means connecting said blade to the base portion of the frame for forward and rear feeding movements, means to effect movement of the blade comprising a lever pivoted to the frame, a fork arm pivoted to the upstanding member of the frame and connected with said lever to actuate the same, a second lever pivoted to the frame and having means to engage a part on the feed blade, one of said levers having an elongated slot therein, and a member connected to the other lever and adjustably disposed in said slot.

3. A sewing machine attachment comprising a frame having a substantially horizontal base portion and an upstanding member, a feed blade, means connecting said blade to the base portion of the frame for forward and rear` feeding movements, means to effect movement of the blade comprising a lever pivoted to the frame, a fork arm pivoted to the upstanding member of the frame and connected with said lever to actuate the same, a second lever having means to engage a part on the feed blade, said levers being pivoted to the frame on a common axis, and means adjustably connecting said levers to vary the relative positions thereof with respect to the axis.

4. A sewing machine attachment comprising a frame having a substantially horizontal base portion and an upstanding member, a feed blade, means connecting said blade to the base portion of the frame for forward and rear feeding movements, means to effect movement of the blade comprising a lever pivoted to the frame, a fork arm pivoted to the upstanding member of the frame and connected with said lever to actuate the same, a second lever having means to engage a part on the feed blade, said levers being pivoted to the frame on a common axis and having adjacent portions each provided with a slot, one of which intersects the other, and a securing member adjustable in said slots to secure one lever to the other.

5. A sewing machine attachment, as in claim 4, wherein a cam member rotatably mounted on the frame is driven by the fork arm and carries a cam portion which engages said first lever.

6. A sewing machine attachment, as in claim 1, wherein said actuating means actuates the feed blade in one direction, and a spring is provided to move the blade in the other direction.

CARL G. BAEHR.

Name Date Hinman Apr. 18, 1939 Number 

